Removable automobile-top.



R. w. EASTMAN.

REMOVABLE AUTOMOBILE TOP.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 15, 1911.

Patented July 16, 1912.

WITNESSES I v INVENTQR R aymnndWE a Elma. n

W All m y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RAYMOND W. EASTMAN, OF ALVA, OKLAHOMA.

REMOVABLE AUTOMOBILE-TOP.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RAYMOND IV. EAST- MAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Alva, in the county of WVoods and State of Oklahoma,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in RemovableAutomobile-Tops, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to removable tops, for vehicles such asautomobiles.

The principal object of the invention is to improve and simplify themeans whereby the bows of vehicles may be connected with the body of thevehicle.

Vith the above and other objects in view as will be hereinafterapparent, the invention consists in general of certain novel arrangementor details and combination the parts hereinafter fully described,illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference indicate likeparts in the several views, and Figure 1, is a partial side elevation ofa vehicle with the improved device applied thereto. Fig. 2, is a view insection showing the rear attachment used with this device. Fig. 3, is afront view of the rear attachment. Fig. 4, is a plan view of the frontattachment.

In order to illustrate the device, the same has been shown as applied toa vehicle having a body 10. On this vehicle is the usual body 11supported by the front bows 12 and the rear bows 13, the differentmembers of which are pivoted as at 14. Secured in suitable sockets 15adjacent the front and rear of the body 10 are socket members each ofwhich comprises a stem 16 threaded for engagement with its socket andhaving on top a plate 17 provided with side flanges 18 and a rear flange20. The side flanges 18 each having inwardly projecting ribs 21 soarranged that a slot 22 is formed between the inner edges of these ribs.

The male member of the coupling comprises a plate 23 from which rises astem 24: having at its upper end a pair of perforated ears 25 for thereception of a pivot bolt 24 by means of which it is pivoted to itsrespective bow.

It is to be observed that the above plates 17 and 23 are displayed atsuch an angle to Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 15, 1911.

Patented July 16, 1912.

Serial No. 644,148.

the respective stems 16 and 24: that when in position the socket plate23 will slant rearwardly and downwardly to the car body. Thisinclination of the sockets is important as the members engaging thesockets are held by gravity and, of course are less likely to fall outof place than as if they were dis posed horizontally.

Upon the rear bows 13 is secured or formed a socket 27 similar in allrespects to the socket bows heretofore described, and displaced at suchan angle that the forward male member may be swung about its pivot toenter the slot in said member 27.

In order to prevent the rear member 23 from being accidentallydisplaced, a setscrew 28 is provided which extends through a threadedopening in the plate 17 and engages t-he under side of the member 23.

In using this device when it is wished to fold back the top 11 theforward male member at each side of the bows 12 is removed from itssocket and placed in the respective socket 27 The entire top may then beswung down as shown in dotted-lines in Fig.1. If it is wished toentirely remove the top from the vehicle body the set screws 28 areloosened forward whereupon the entire body may be picked up in foldedposit-ion and removed from the vehicle body.

There has thus been provided a simple and eflicient device of the kinddescribed and for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form andconstruction of this invention without departing from the materialprinciples thereof. It is not therefore desired to confine the inventionto the exact form herein shown and described but it is wished to includeall such as properly come within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is Thecombination with a vehicle of a top therefor provided with sets ofpivotally connected bows, rearwardly and downwardly inclined socketsmounted on said vehicle at each side thereof, and in spaced relation,other sockets carried by the rear bows and arranged in substantialvertical relation when the top is up, and male members carried by therear bows for engagement with the rear sockets and other male memberscarried by the front bows and adapted for engagement In testimonywhereof I hereunto aflix my with the front sockets when the top is insignature in presence of two witnesses. operative vosition and with thesockets on T 1, T the rear b iws when the top is collapsed and RAYMOBDHJASTMAA' means carried by said sockets and adapted Vitnesses:

to engage with the male members to retain T. WV. TI-IoRNI-IILL,

them in position. SANDOR J. VIGG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

